World War II Honoree

Charles Drew, M.D.

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Richard E. Miller

A FAMED AFRO-AMERICAN ATHLETE, EDUCATOR, PHYSICIAN AND SCIENTIST, HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT LONGER-LASTING BLOOD PLASMA COULD BE USED INSTEAD OF WHOLE BLOOD FOR EMERGENCY TRANSFUSIONS. HE PUBLISHED HIS FINDINGS AND IDEAS FOR COLLECTING AND PROCESSING PLASMA IN AN INFLUENTIAL ARTICLE CALLED 'BANKED BLOOD' WHILE EARNING HIS DOCTOR OF MEDICAL SCIENCE DEGREE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN 1940. SENT AN URGENT REQUEST FOR DRIED PLASMA TO BE ADMINISTERED TO BATTLEFIELD CASUALTIES. THE HONOREE WAS EVENTUALLY CHOSEN MEDICAL SUPERVISOR OF THE 'BLOOD FOR BRITAIN' PROJECT. LATER, HE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE RED CROSS BLOOD BANK AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, IN CHARGE OF BLOOD COLLECTION FOR THE U.S. ARMY AND NAVY. WHILE SETTING UP THE BLOOD BANK AND TRAINING STAFF, HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE ARMED FORCES' DIRECTIVE OF SEPARATING BLOOD ACCORDING TO THE RACE OF THE DONOR.